In an effort to be healthier our family has made a goal to eat more beans. This is a big undertaking since most of us claim that we don't like beans. We have only been adding more beans to our meals for about a week but I have found some great recipes that anyone will love, even kids. Why do we want to use more beans? Let's talk about the benefits of beans.
- Beans lower cholesterol
- Beans are an excellent source of non fat protein.
- Beans are and excellent source of complex carbohydrates.
- The carbohydrates in beans are absorbed slower than simple sugars so you stay fuller longer when you eat them.
- Beans have lots of fiber.
- They are easy to store and cook.
- Beans are an inexpensive protein.
As a personal non scientific note I have upped my bean intake for only one week. It might be psychosomatic, but I don't feel hungry after eating a meal that contains a serving of beans for up to 4 or 5 hours. I really think it's because they digest slower. I also have more energy throughout the day and I don't have that big drop in blood sugar that makes me feel like I need to take a nap.
Now that I have convinced you to eat beans, watch for the insanely delicious black bean soup recipe in my next article.
We LOVE blackbean soup! And also, if you soak the beans prior to eating, they'll allow you to digest them even better and keep you full even longer all the while absorbing all their good nutrients!!
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE beans. A fun snack which is easy to prepare are oven roasted. You can use chickpeas, but any beans work well too. You just toss them lightly in olive oil and your favorite spice, then cook in the oven at 450 for about 30 minutes. Delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love green beans.
ReplyDeleteI don't love beans. I know they are good for me, but I don't like them.
I keep trying different recipes though, hoping to find one that I like more than once.
Look forward to your posts!
We just got back from Costa Rica and guess what they eat for EVERY meal? You guessed it-beans, with rice, of course. I thought that I would get so sick of rice and beans, but I didn't. I actually really enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteNow I just have to try convincing my family to have rice and beans for every meal. It would make my life so much easier! :)
Oh, Mama Mia. Beans are fantastic. You're children will be successful farmers right at the start. So easy. So storable. So inexpensive.
ReplyDeleteWe Looooooooove beans here. They are a great value and pack a nutritional punch. Looking forward to your black bean recipe.
ReplyDeleteWe love bean burgers made with chickpeas and brown rice.
Awesome! I recently learned that the brand Eden Organics beans have kombu which helps with digestability. Thanks for the reminder to add them in when possible for all the good they do!
ReplyDeleteI love beans, the kids are more picky. One of my favorite things to do is put 2 cups of dry beans in the crockpot for 6 hours on high with LOTS of water. And maybe some epazote. No presoaking required! Sometimes I put them (rinsed) right into soup, but sometimes I rinse and stick them in the fridge, to add to salads, or sauteed greens, or to mash up and spread on bread or crackers.
ReplyDeleteOur favorites are flageolet or white for soup and Santa Maria pink or pinto for chili and red lentils for anything with coconut lol. I will buy any dry bean I haven't seen before. Mostly we eat pintos though--they are cheap and the kids don't complain. And they're good :)
Michael,
ReplyDeleteYou may know this but one of your Grandfather's favorite meals was great northern bean and ham soup. I can still hear him say that he got more energy out of that meal than any other. I learned to like it too.
Each fall, your grandma would cook up several gallons of chili for sale at the 2nd Ward concession stand at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. I loved that chili which was heavy on kidney beans and hamburger.
I also love succotash.The protein in the beans complements the carbohydrates in the corn.
Great post! I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Anne ♥
Allison: Good point about soaking the beans.
ReplyDeleteGirl rural: I have tried baking chickpeas, but never beans. I'll have to try it.
Linda G: Hopefully you will like some of the recipes I give out.
Jen: I hear you. I ate beans and rice every day when I lived in the Dominican Republic. If I had to eat something every day, it would probably be beans and rice.
Maybelline: I like the inexpensive aspect of beans.
Daisy: I need your chickpea brown rice burger recipe.
Eden: I have never heard of Kombu. I will have to research it.
Dree: I would love to get one of your red lentil recipes.
Dale: I remember going to grandma's and having ham and bean soup. Thanks for the memory.
Anne: Welcome to the blog.
Allison: Good point about soaking the beans.
ReplyDeleteGirl rural: I have tried baking chickpeas, but never beans. I'll have to try it.
Linda G: Hopefully you will like some of the recipes I give out.
Jen: I hear you. I ate beans and rice every day when I lived in the Dominican Republic. If I had to eat something every day, it would probably be beans and rice.
Maybelline: I like the inexpensive aspect of beans.
Daisy: I need your chickpea brown rice burger recipe.
Eden: I have never heard of Kombu. I will have to research it.
Dree: I would love to get one of your red lentil recipes.
Dale: I remember going to grandma's and having ham and bean soup. Thanks for the memory.
Anne: Welcome to the blog.
Indeed! Beans are healthy and delicious. Looking forward for your delicious black bean soup. I actually host a weekly gardening link up every Friday on my blog. I'd love for you to drop by and join in.
ReplyDelete